Handbag We Heart: The Kenzo Kalifornia Bag

Ever since Berkeley grads and Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon came onboard at Kenzo as creative directors, the duo have done wonders in injecting youth, passion, and energy into the French fashion house’s legacy. Aside from igniting a frenzy over signature tiger and eye prints, the pair’s first foray into handbags achieved instant “It” bag status. The Kenzo Kalifornia bag debuted in Paris as part of the label’s Spring 2014 Ready-to-Wear collection, which doubled as a platform to speak out against overfishing and an urgent message to protect our oceans, which have influenced the pair’s personal lives and as a result, their design aesthetic and mission.

Straight from the runway, the Kenzo Kalifornia bag, with its rocker chic and cool West Coast vibes starred at an event held at a skatepark in downtown LA. It’s fitting really, as the surf and skate subculture clearly influenced the bag’s appearance, which is obviously inspired by biker jackets (Fun Fact: the diagonal zippers create a sideways “K” shape, an ode to the Kenzo name). Leon says, “When we were designing and looking at leathers, we kept looking at our leather jackets, thinking about the different weights and textures of them, and there was definitely inspiration there.” Among a quartet of professional female skateboarders and a sea of celebrities at the skatepark launch party, Jessica Alba said, “I always feel really fun whenever I wear Kenzo,” which is precisely why we love the Kenzo Kalifornia bag. It’s funky, fresh, and comes in a rainbow of bright colors, and is available in mini and even keychain-sized styles. Shop the Kenzo Kalifornia bag on eBay today.